Mark Sanchez got 'chills' after pre-game pep talk from Joe Namath

Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez got a unique pep talk before his first NFL start: It was from Hall of Famer Joe Namath.

Sanchez, months after some said he was too unpolished to enter the NFL as an underclassman, led the Jets to a 24-7 victory in Houston. He said he got "chills" from the one-on-one he had with Namath prior to the game:

"I asked him about his first start and he said, 'You know what? I don't even know. I remember the big games though. I remember the Super Bowl and it ain't about me either. It's about you today. It's about you playing for these guys.' I mean, what a pep talk, Joe Namath you know, just taking all the credit from himself and throwing it to me and just saying good luck."

Sanchez couldn't soak in the Namath moment too much, however, and said he had to "snap back in and get focused."

He was 18-for-31 with 272 yards passing, a touchdown and an interception in his debut.

Namath was impressed by Sanchez's debut, even if he had criticism for the Jets' play-calling. He objected to the pass when Sanchez was picked and the Texans returned it for their only touchdown.

"I'm surprised (coach) Rex (Ryan) didn't go and choke (offensive coordinator Brian) Schottenheimer at that point," Namath told Newsday. "But I hope we don't see any of that this year."

(Note: Ryan's father, Buddy, once engaged in a sideline fight with fellow coach Kevin Gilbride when both coached with the Houston Oilers.)

Namath's assessment of Sanchez's debut was positive. He told Newsday:

"He moves around nicely in the pocket for a rookie. He has poise, but he's been playing football for a little while. He's supposed to have poise. He seemed like he was ready to go, but he's got to learn that when you got a defense like this, there are some things you don't even attempt."

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About Nate Davis

Nate Davis is a reporter, blogger and editor who's been at USA TODAY since 2000. He has covered the NFL since 2005. No, he did not play quarterback for Ball State. Davis' succession of our esteemed colleague Sean Leahy at The Huddle is considered a Brady-for-Bledsoe swap by most "insiders."More about Nate